Welcome back to my first blog post in YEARS!
Today I had the chance to attend a confrence at one of New York City’s true hidden treasures I never knew exsisted – the Metropolitan Club.
For much of the early 20th century, it was one of the most prestigious private clubs in America.
Founded in 1891 by J. Pierpont Morgan and some of the most influential names of the Gilded Age, the club was created after a social snub turned into an opportunity to build what many considered the finest private clubhouse in America. When it opened in 1894, it cost nearly $2 million to construct – roughly $70–80 million today.
Being inside, it’s hard not to imagine what these rooms have witnessed over the last 130 years. The building itself is incredible. From the marble staircases and ornate ceilings to the views overlooking Fifth Avenue and Central Park, the few rooms I was in really felt like stepping back into another era.
One detail I found especially interesting is that the grand Fifth Avenue side wasn’t designed as the main entrance. The entrance is actually around the side on 60th street, opening into a small courtyard.
Instead, it was meant to be enjoyed from inside, where members could sit in the lounge and watch New York society pass by – a front row seat to the city at the height of the Gilded Age. This is the room where the conference was held where giant windows have an inside look over Central Park.
While there were conference tables there today, the decor made it easy to think of the powerful New York elite sitting there in their smoking jackets and lounge chairs, smoking a cigar back in the day while watching horses and carriages go by.
It’s hard to describe the level of detail embedded into the ceilings and walls.
I’ve included some photos I took today to show just how remarkably unchanged this architectural masterpiece has remained. It’s amazing to think that generations of financiers, industrialists, and presidents have walked through this same space.
The marble fireplaces are too large to describe.
Coincidentally, just outside was a historic taxi cab, which really completed the experience.
Sometimes the best part of being in New York isn’t finding something new – it’s discovering a place that has quietly preserved its history, pretty much unchanged, for well over a century.
The Random Compass 